I love to capture photos of people in their natural environment, where they are everyday and doing what they do every day.  In the industry it is called environmental portraiture.  So, Hand in Hand South-Africa empowers women in rural villages by giving them the means to start their own entrepreneurial business and then helping them out as well as following up.

This is where we were contacted to go with them to Rustenburg where they have a few of these initiatives up and running and needed some environmental portraiture of these peoples everyday lives for a case study.

There is something utterly humbling about doing work like this.  You meet people who don’t have a lot but because they are grateful have done a lot with what they have.  Even though

there is a language barrier you still manage to communicate with knowing eyes and smiles which radiates proudness.  These women are able to support their families in such a way that will teach their children the ways of life.  And being able to work, supports and challenges them in such a way that they are proud to show us their hard work.

Going through these photos just makes me smile…  The personality of every person in the photographs, what they think of their work, how hard they work to support their families and exactly how proud and grateful they are to have been given this opportunity. ( and of this crazy photographer sitting on her bum in the muddy (and wet) vegetable garden… )

Riani